Two separate discussions will take place that day: one on parking issues and accommodation of vehicles around the Talkeetna Village Park AND a discussion of proposed trail improvements in the non-motorized, Borough-owned Talkeetna Lakes Park.

The new arsenic plant erased some of the downtown parking that had been used by Chase residents.  The Borough has been working since that time to come up with a plan that can accommodate all residents as well as summer visitors that tend to park behind the Village Park.

Dwayne Adams is a planner with USKH, Incorporated but has been hired by the Borough to lead discussions on Saturday.  He says discussion of the Talkeetna Riverfront Park plan will not be excluded since campsites and parking are part of that plan.  He has invited Railroad personnel to the meeting.

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The new trails in Talkeetna Lakes Park have been in the planning for quite some time and this will be the unveiling of the plan for anyone who has not had a chance to see the maps.  There will also be discussion on proposed trails in the future.   Last month, the Borough Assembly approved one hundred thousand dollars in grant money to be allocated to the project to build about five kilometers of ski trail.

Residents can attend one meeting or both on Saturday.  The parking and village park meeting starts at 10 a.m. at the Talkeetna Elementary School. The Ski trail and Talkeetna Lakes Park discussion starts at 2 p.m.

Bruce Paulsen at Borough land management says the trail area was surveyed 2003, but easements were not pursued at the time.  The paperwork on the easements is now complete and the Curry Ridge Riders have asked that the trail might become part of their extensive trail system.

Department of Natural Resources has opened the public comment period on the potential access easement for the Deep Creek trail. If the easement is granted, the proposed easement would be a DNR public easement to provide public access across state lands.

The proposed trail runs mostly parallel to the Petersville Road, taking snowmachine and ski traffic off the road itself.  The trail will bisect the East West express trail near the point where it meets the Petersville Road.  The proposal is for a 16 mile long, 50 foot wide, winter-use-only trail for non motorized recreationalists, snowmachines and winter grooming equipment.

Once the trail becomes legal it is eligible for grants for trail grooming and maintenance.

The public comment period is open thru March 24^th .

Body of Notice:
State of Alaska
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
Southcentral Region Office
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 900C
Anchorage, AK. 99501-3577

Courtesy Public Notice
ADL # 231120
Deep Creek Trail
Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Subject to Alaska Statute (AS) 38.05.850, the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW), Southcentral Region Office is considering an application to grant a winter-only public access easement for ADL # 231120, located on state-owned lands in Sections 2 and 11 of Township 26N, Range 8W, Sections 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 26 and 35 of Township 27N, Range 8W and Sections 9, 10, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 35 and 36 of Township 28N, Range 8W, all in the Seward Meridian. This easement will be for nonmotorized users, users with snowmachines up to 1500 pounds in weight and grooming equipment. The proposed easement will be 50’ in width and approximately 16 miles in length. If granted, the proposed easement will be held by DMLW for the public, to provide public access across state lands.
Members of the public are invited to comment on this proposal. The DMLW must receive written comments no later than 5:00 pm on March 24, 2011. In order to be given full consideration, all comments should clearly explain the facts on which they are based and how they pertain to the proposed action. Comments, questions or requests to view the application packet should be directed to the attention of Eric Moore at the Southcentral Region Office, 550 W 7th Ave, Suite 900C, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3577; Telephone (907) 269-8548, Fax (907) 269-8913, email eric [dot] moore [at] alaska [dot] gov.
The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications to participate may contact the TDD number at (907) 269-8411. Copies of the Alaska Statute referenced above may be accessed on-line by searching the State of Alaska website at www.legis.state.ak.us/folhome.htm.

The Division of Mining, Land and Water, Southcentral Region Office reserves the right to waive technical deficits in this notice.

Download audio file (GetOutPlay-20110211-Trailetiquette.mp3)

Download Audio (mp3)

Today’s Sprint Race has been postponed until 2 pm. The jury makes a final decision on the races at 12:30 today. At 11:30 this morning the temperature in Anchorage was 15 below zero. This will be the 4^th day of cancellations if the jury decides to cancel the races.

Tazlina Mannix is not scheduled to race in the sprint qualifiers today.

The team sprint has officially been cancelled. There is still a chance that Mannix will race in tomorrow’s 10 K classic distance race if tempteratures permit. The official race website is continually updated as the cold temperatures hamper the competition.